Reno, Nevada, or the "Biggest Little City in the World," is a hotbed for tourism because of its exciting gaming action, inexpensive hotels, good restaurants and array of outdoor activities. Reno is less than an hour from Lake Tahoe, which recently won the No. 1 spot in TripAdvisor.com's Choice Destination Awards.

Most of Reno's casinos are located downtown, within walking distance of one another, along Virginia Street. This includes the heavy hitters like Circus Circus, the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Harrah's. This makes it easy for visitors who want to fully experience the Reno gambling scene.

Local Guide to Casinos in Reno

The cool thing about Atlantis Casino Resort Spa is that it sits smack in the middle of Reno's shopping and dining district, so visitors are within minutes of some of the area's greatest restaurants and shops. Its location, combined with Atlantis' highly touted casino action, live events, deals and free parking makes it an ideal spot for visitors to Reno.

Much like its Las Vegas counterpart, Reno's Circus Circus isn't to be outdone. With more than 1,500 rooms and suites (some up to 1,000 square feet!), the hotel houses six restaurants, an on-site wedding chapel, multiple casino games, a state-of-the-art business center, catering services and a convention center. And if all that doesn't satisfy you, just take a stroll across the skyway to the Eldorado and Silver Legacy casinos.

If Circus Circus doesn't have enough offerings to keep you satisfied, take a stroll across the skyway to Eldorado Casino. There are nine (yes, 9!) restaurants on-site at Eldorado Casino, in addition to the ever-popular Brew Brothers Brewery. The casino itself spans an incredible 81,000 square feet and offers more than 1,800 slots and 90 game tables. It also hosts a full-service race-and-sports book. Eldorado Casino is known for its Broadway-style acts, which take center stage at the casino's 580-seat theater. And if that's not enough to stuff you to the gills, go hang out by the pool, soak in the hot tub, shop at specialty boutiques, or play a little Golden Tee at the arcade. Eldorado Casino is a stunner to the senses.

Visitors don't even have to leave their rooms at the famous Harrah's, which offers 24-hour room service ... a charming feature. But, you might want to check out the casino's surroundings on famed Virginia Street. Or get lost in Harrah's 57,000-square-foot of casino space or seven restaurants.

John Ascuaga's Nugget is a family-owned resort with more than 1,600 hotel rooms and a ton of amenities. You won't go around hungry at the Nugget, considering the casino offers eight restaurants. And its 1,300 slot machines compete with some of the biggest casinos in Reno. If slots or table games aren't your thing, belly up to a game of Bingo or just chill in the atrium pool.

With 17 themed bars and lounges,
Peppermill is the place for nightlife action. Peppermill has more than 1,600 rooms and 720 suites. It's a conventioner's paradise, with meeting spaces, 10 restaurants, airport shuttle, the Tuscany Ballroom specifically designed for shows and events. Once five o'clock arrives, it's time to hit the casino, where slots, Keno, table games, Pai Gow Poker and cabaret-style entertainment dominate.

Located in the heart of downtown Reno, Sands Casino is a great budget option for visitors to Reno. With 800 guest rooms and regular specials, Sands also offers monthly promotions at its casino. Dining options range from Fuzio noodle bar to Arby's. And summer is a great time to stay at Sands Regency because of its regular pool parties. Also available at Sands Regency: massage, wedding chapel services, a full-service beauty salon and golf and ski packages to nearby Lake Tahoe.

Visitors to the Siena Hotel Spa and Casino will get a view of the river or nearby mountains in every room. Some of the suites at Siena Hotel are as big as 1,200 square feet, even though the hotel is smaller than most of the other casino hotels in Reno. With 185 rooms and 29 suites, Siena Hotel offers boutique-style amenities, three restaurants - each with a focus on wine, and a Tuscan-themed casino. Get the best of both worlds at Siena Hotel and Spa.

Size matters at Silver Legacy. Boasting the largest composite dome and mining rig in the world, in addition to the largest gaming space in Reno, most people have heard of the Silver Legacy even before they've visited Reno. Located in the heart of downtown, Silver Legacy is connected to the Eldorado Hotel Casino and Circus Circus via skywalks. It has 1,720 rooms, six restaurants, an on-site comedy club and 85,000 square feet of gaming space, perfect for recreational travelers.